Porter Moser notebook: Why this year is different? OU addressed its needs in portal

It’s a very reasonable question to ask OU basketball head coach Porter Moser. A lot of fans are wondering the same dang thing.

Why is this year different?

Now in year No. 3 at Oklahoma, why is there such a growing optimism from Moser and the staff that is is the group that gets the Sooners back to the NCAA tournament?

Moser said it started with a different mentality in the spring. The better the portal recruiting in the spring, the better team should be. The better the team will be.

“I think what feels different with the portal this year is I think just the flat-out talent level,” said Moser when asked by SoonerScoop on Tuesday. “Were able to address needs. I think last year we got two guys that needed a waiver, so the NIL and all that doesn’t come into place when you’re needing a waiver. We took Luke Northweather was a high school player. We took Sam was a walk-on. He actually paid us, not the other way around in this NIL world.

“So this time around, you’re a little bit better in that area. I think our talent level and the need level, I think we addressed it more in the transfer portal. Think we got a little older. I think we signed some guys that have had some experience. Le’Tre Darthard. Rivaldo Soares. Javian McCollum is in his third year. John Hugley. So we addressed some guys that have been through it but we also met some needs. I said I want speed. I want some shooting, speed, some length, athleticism.

“If my staff was here they could say ‘Oh my God those meetings of what coach was saying in the meetings where we wanted to address,’ and I thought we addressed it. I thought we did more in the spring recruiting transfer portal than we have done my first two years.”

It’s another mix-and-match type of season. Your captains epitomize that. You have someone returning in sophomore Milos Uzan. And then you have a first-year transfer in super senior Le’Tre Darthard. That’s today’s college basketball.

Building the chemistry

The challenge in college basketball is no longer about relying on freshmen. With the transfer portal, it’s about how quickly a team can come together.

All the new faces between the portal and the freshmen, so a lot to ask for with the Sooners. They’re faster, longer, more athletic, but can they be a cohesive group?

“There’s also a race to maturity with your team and newcomers,” Moser said. “Not only emotionally but to have their game mature with what you’re doing and to get them on page with your system and on page with your culture. That has been something that I keep saying every year. I hope this isn’t the new normal where you’ve got eight or nine guys.

“We were in it again with this many new guys. The summer is coming. Spending time with them. Getting together. Getting to know them. Nothing builds relationships like time. And it’s so important. Because that race to maturity also comes in a race to trust. A race to trust.”

Stronger depth

One noticeable difference in talking to Moser is how excited he is about the whole roster. There is a feeling that everybody can play a role for this team. You’re not searching for a fifth starter. You’re wondering among the next five who can keep pushing the starters because it has the depth to do so.

“I think we’re deeper. I think we’ve had drop offs when we’ve got into our bench the last two years. Think we’re deeper. I think we can go into the bench and have some guys that have played a lot of college basketball before.”

Deep and healthy. Moser confirmed freshman Jacolb Cole has been cleared after dealing with a foot fracture in the summer. He also said transfer guard Javian McCollum missed Big 12 media days because he was in concussion protocol.

McCollum was available to media Tuesday and is full-go once again.

Don’t forget about Luke

Moser gave a little smile because as you go up and down the roster, you don’t think about Luke Northweather too much.

After redshirting last season, sounds like the big man has made some tremendous strides. Even being singled out by Moser as perhaps the most consistent performer during the fall.

“He gives you something different. He’s every bit 6-11 and has an elite catch-and-shoot shot,” Moser said. “He’s different. I’ve been playing him at the four, playing big. He gives you a unique person – I asked Milos this question. Milos loves finding him because he’s a big target on the perimeter because he’s 6-11 it’s catch-and-shoot. Sometimes with big guys, it’s like a Ferris wheel. It goes round and round to get that shot off. Luke is just catch, shoot.”

The chance to pair Northweather with John Hugley would be interesting. There are a lot of different lineup combinations Moser could utilize. We’ll all find out together which ones work best.

Final quote

“He’s a prime example of continuity, having guys get in the program. As good as I’ve been around in development. He’s up over 190. He came in at 170. He looks stronger. He’s playing with great pace. His shot looks better. His leadership was better. On every facet, I’m excited for his development. That’s what you want. That’s why in this day and age, kids being able to transfer portal, you just lock in and have a great offseason. He’s definitely ready for the next step. Leadership-wise too…he’s unequivocally our leader as a sophomore and he’s handled it great.” – Moser on Milos Uzan